Memorial Plans
Please find memorial plans as they develop below. Please check back for daily updates.
October 19, 2022
11am: Memorial service at The Hills Baptist Church
1pm: graveside service at Fort Sam Houston
Potluck reception at The Hills Baptist Church following graveside
Announcement for The Hills Baptist Church Sunday program:
Last Sunday, October 2nd, Bobby R. Self went into the Lord’s presence. He is reunited with his wife, “Aunt Toogie”, and were both long time members of our church. A memorial service will be held here in the sanctuary at 11am on October 19th. Following the service, a graveside service will be held at Fort Sam Houston at 1pm. A potluck back at the church will occur following the graveside service.
Draft memorial program and participants for October 19:
Celebration of Life Order of Service, Chief Master Sargent Bobby R. Self
September 16, 1926 - October 2, 2022
10:40 am Prelude: Pianist Gary Morgan - CONFIRMED
11am Introduction: Pastor Dennis Wall - CONFIRMED
Medley of Song: Congregation sings The Old Rugged Cross, How Great Thou Art, Because He Lives (favorite songs of Bob’s)
Remembering Bob: Limit three, 5 minutes each.
Speaker 1: George Mier
Speaker 2: Gary Morgan ??
Speaker 3: Rebekah Costante ??
Photo slide show and singers: projected on screen of life photos. Music to accompany the photos:
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus - Reggie (Tom’s request)
It is Well with My Soul - Abigail Corbett (Tom’s request) - CONFIRMED
Organ accompaniment: Elizabeth Mier (Elizabeth’s request) - CONFIRMED
Bob’s Life Message: Pastor Dennis Wall - CONFIRMED
Instructions: Porter Loring Director
Closing hymn: Congregation sings Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (Jennifer’s request)
Obituary draft
Bobby Ray Self was born in Altoona, Alabama on September 16, 1926, one of five brothers and two sisters to Horace Greely Self and Mary Lucille Wright. Bobby worked in coal mines as a child and in 1943 enlisted in the army during WWII. He fought in the battle of Okinawa in 1945 and was pulled from the battlefield by a conscientious objector after being shot. His injuries to his legs continued to plague him during his life and got worse as he got older.
Bobby met Ruth Lee Raines, four years his senior, and they were married on November 1, 1947 in Prattville, Alabama. Bob and Ruth welcomed their first son Thomas on January 8, 1952. Their second son arrived on February 5, 1954.
Bob later transferred out of the army and into the air force. Bob’s career in the air force took them all over the U.S. and the world. Second son Richard was born during Bob’s deployment to England. Bob also worked at area 51 in Las Vegas but wouldn’t give up any of its secrets. During son Thomas’s 11th grade, the family was transferred from Nevada to the Ramstein air force base in West Germany. With Germany as a home base, Bob’s sons explored Europe as young adults.
Upon his retirement in 1975, Bob and Ruth settled into their permanent home in San Antonio, Texas. Bob and Ruth invested time and energy into building a new life with new friends and new neighbors. They found Rainbow Hills Baptist Church to be a welcoming family and both became very active in the life of the church. Ruth became known as “Aunt Toogie” and was a favorite of the children to whom she would hand out gum. Bob served as church Administrator for several years managing resources, fundraising, and church expansion. Ruth and Bob gave of their time generously and served as volunteers at the Wilford Hall military hospital in San Antonio. Bob continued visiting the commissary at the base and enjoyed living close enough to hear the jets fly over.
When not volunteering or serving at the church, Bob and Ruth would travel across country to see their two grandchildren in Vermont and their son and wife in Sun Valley, Idaho.
As Bob finally began to decline, he moved in May of 2021 to live with his son Thomas and his wife, Jennifer in Fort Mill, South Carolina. There he received the specialized care that he deserved until he could no longer be managed at home. From March of 2022 Bob lived in a 5 star assisted living where he became a favorite of the staff who doted on him. Finally, his desire to be with Ruth again beckoned him home.
He is preceded in death by his wife Ruth Lee Self, his siblings Major, Horace, Billy, Richard, Lyda, and Ruth. He is survived by his son Thomas and wife Jennifer, and son Richard Self and wife Suzanne, and two grandsons Ethan and Quinn.
Pallbearers
George Mier - CONFIRMED
Chris Corbett - CONFIRMED
Gary Morgan - CONFIRMED
Tom Self
Reggie??
??
??
??
Military
Ruth
Friends and Family
Carolina
